Contents

Understand

Yubeng Village is situated at the foot of the Meili Snow Mountain Range. From Upper Yubeng, trekkers have access to the Base Camp, and Ice Lake hikes. From Lower Yubeng, you can find the paths to the Sacred Waterfall, and if you are a hardcore climber, the Secret Lake, which from a higher vantage point, has an unobstructed view of the Kawa Karpo Peak (6,740 meters), and most of the rest of the mountain range.

Legend has it that for centuries Yubeng Village was unknown to the outside world. One day, an old man arrived in Xidang Village near Lancang River (the Mekong River) and tried to buy highland barley from the villagers there. No one knew where he came from, so some of the villagers followed him when he left, but on the way over the mountain the old man disappeared.

Later, the old man came back to Xidang to buy food again. The villagers objected and told him “we aren’t going to sell you barley or wheat, but just some millet.” When they loaded the food for the old man, one of the villagers made small holes on the bags. After he started his journey back home, the old man was followed again. He didn’t realize that the holes in the bags had spilled the millet along the way. However, when he reached a huge rock, he disappeared. So the villagers pried up the rock and Yubeng Village was discovered.

Get in

There are four buses from Shangri-la to Deqin every day. They leave before noon from the main bus station located in the north of the new town. Buy your ticket the day before if possible. Look for the clock tower just above its entrance. Take the #1 local bus from the bus stop just in front of Wonderful Grocery Store, across the street from the Old Town parking lot.

There are also minivans at the bus station that leave when they are full (the drivers are shouting "Deqin, Deqin!" to passers by). It's 100 yuan per person. The minivans are a bit faster than the bus.

From Deqin, it is easy to get a taxi to Fei Lai Si (20 minutes) where you can find a guesthouse and make further arrangements to get to the start of the hike in Xidang Village the next day. There is also a public bus From Deqin to Xidang which leaves at 3 pm.

A typical trek at Yubeng takes 5-7 days round trip from Deqin. For assistance in arranging private transportation from Shangri-la: [1]

Get around

See

The Holy Waterfall above Lower Yubeng

The Base Camp and Ice Lake above Upper Yubeng

Hike out the same way over the pass or follow the Yubeng river down to Mekong and hike to Ninong village.

Do

Buy

Caterpillar fungus, matsutake and snow lotus when it's the season

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Upper Yubeng

Lobsang's Trekker Lodge ( 藏巴乐之家 ) Website: [2] Located in Upper Yubeng just off the road leading to the beginning of the Base Camp trek. Call Lobsang in the evening (after 8pm) at the Kawa Karpo Pilgrim Family House: 0887-8411032 to arrange a pick up in Xidang, or to make a reservation. Cell: 13988797053 (not much cell reception in Yubeng though). 德钦梅里雪山雨崩 Review: [3]http://lobsangtrekkerlodge.webs.com